Electric switch



Feb. 20, 1934. Q s ow 1,947,681

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenlor Feb. 20, 1934. I Q STQW 1,947,681

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 j \3 I Z 2 37 Invenlor C. E flow 2 1 By M! flllomey Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,947,681 ELECTRIC SWITCH Clarence s. Stow, Tulsa, Okla, assignor to Rate! -Scott, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 20,1932. Serial No. 629,708

Renewed July 22, 1933 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric switches in general and more particularly to devices of this character for use on motor vehicles for controlling direction signals and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a switch of this character which is hand operated to selectively energize the direction signals and which embodies a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which the switch will be returned to neutral or inoperative position by the steering wheel of the motor vehicle after'a turn has been completed. Other objects of the invention are to provide a switch of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, attractive in appearance, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an electric switch in accordance with the present invention mounted in position on the steering column of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof with the cover plate removed.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the switch, showing the same removed from the steering column.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the rotary plate.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the slidable latch.

Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the switch removed from the steering column and without the cover plate thereon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it

will be seen that the embodiment of the present,

invention which has been illustrated comprises a supporting bracket which is designated generally by the reference numeral 1, said bracket including a flat plate 2 from which side flanges 3 depend. A comparatively short flange 4 depends from the outer end of the plate 2. The bracket 1 is further provided with a curved inner end for abutting engagement with the steeringcolumn 5 of the automobile, upon which the switch is mounted. Flanges 6 are provided on the curved inner end of the bracket 1, said flanges 6 bearing against the steering column 5. The inner end portions of the flanges 3 are provided with vertical slots 7 which accommodate a split clamping band 8 which encircles the steering c01- (Cl. amp-s9) umn 5. At its ends, the split clamp 8 terminates in out-turned apertured ears 9 which accommodate a nut equipped bolt 10 through the medium of which the. clamp is drawn tightlyaround the steering column for securely mounting the bracket 1 in position thereon. As clearly seen in the drawings, the bracket 1 is secured on the steering column 5 closely adjacent the hub 11 of the steering wheel 12. In its outer end portion, the plate 2 of the bracket 1 has formed therein an arcuate opening 13, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Mounted on the bracket 1 is a housing which is designated generally by the reference numeral 14, said housing including a circular portion 15 and a lateral extension 16. The housing 14 further includes a removable cover plate 17 having a depending marginal flange 18. The housing 14 is open at it inner end.

The housing 14 is secured in position on the bracket 1 through the medium of a bolt 19 upon which a retaining nut 20 is threaded, a washer 21 being interposed between the nut 20 and said bracket 1. The head of the bolt 19 includes an intermediate flange 22 and an upstanding extension 23 having a threaded socket therein for the reception of a screw 24 which secures the cover 1'7 in position.

The housing 14 is further secured on the supporting bracket 1 through the medium of a terminal post 25 which is electrically insulated from the housing and the bracket by a bushing 26. Nuts 27 are provided on the post 25 for securing a conductor wire (not shown) from a source of current supply, such as the battery of the automobile, to the switch.

Mounted for rotation about the bushing 26 in the housing 14 is a flat, substantially segmental plate 28 which is illustrated in detail in Figure 4 of the drawings. The plate 28 is provided with an opening 29 which accommodates the bushing 26 and said plate is further provided with a comparatively small opening 30, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Rising from the plate 28 are arcuate, spaced marginal flanges 31 and 32 which travel closely adjacent the side walls of the circular portion 15 of the housing 14. Projecting laterally from the flange 31 is a handle 33 which is operable in a slot 34 which is provided therefor in the housing 14. Between the flanges 31 and 32 the plate 28 is provided with a series of notches 35.

Mounted on the binding post 25 on top of the plate 28 in the housing 14 is a sheet 36 of insulating material. A metallic disk 37 is superimposed on the insulating sheet 36 and has projecting therefrom a. contact finger 38 for engagement with the electrically insulated binding posts 39. A washer 40 is interposed between the head of the binding post 25 andthe disk 3'1. From the side thereof which is diametrically opposite from the contact finger 38 the disk 3'? is provided with a downturned tongue which is engaged in an opening 41 provided therefor in the insulating sheet 36. The opening 41 registers with the opening 30 in the plate 28. It will thus be seen that the disk 37 with the contacting finger 38 thereon is mounted on the plate 28 for rotation with said plate. As best seen in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings, the opening 13 in the bracket 1 accommodates the binding posts 39.

Mounted for reciprocation on the bolt 19 beneath the flange 22 in the portion 16 of the housing 14 is a latch 42 having an elongated opening 43 therein which accommodates said bolt 19. On one end, the latch 42 is provided with a tooth or lug 44 which is engageable in the notches 35 of the plate 28. The side edges of the latch 42 are slidably engaged with the adjacent wall portions or the portion 16 of the housing 14. Rising from the inner end portion of the latch 42 are pins 45.

Mounted for sliding and swinging movement on the upper portion 23 of the bolt 19 is a lever 46, said lever resting on the flange 22. The lever 46 comprises an enlarged intermediate portion having a longitudinal slot 47 therein which accommodates the portion 23 of the bolt 19. One end portion of the lever 46 projects between flanges 31 and 32 for operative engagement therewith when the switch is in use. The other end portionv of the lever 46 is twisted, as at 48, and projects from the open inner end of the housing 14 for engagement by lugs 49 which project from the hub 11 of the steering wheel 12. Projecting laterally from the enlarged intermediate portion of the lever 46 are apertured ears 50 to which one end of coil springs 51 are connected. The other ends of the coil springs 51 are connected to the pins 45 for yieldingly urging the latch 42 into engagement with the plate 28. It will further be seen that the coil springs 51 yieldingly urge the lever 46 toward the hub 11 of the steering wheel 12. A washer 52 is mounted on the portion 23 of the bolt 19 between the lever 46 and the cover 17 of the housing 14.

In use, the switch is mounted in position on the steering column of the automobile as shown and a conductor wire from a source of current supply is secured to the binding post 25. Then, conductor wires from the direction signal lights are secured to the binding posts 39. When the contact finger 38 is disposed between the binding posts 39, the circuit is, of course, open. To engage the contact finger 38 with either of the binding posts 39, the handle 33 is moved in the correct direction to rotate the plate 28 upon which the disk 37 and the insulating sheet 36 are fixed. This causes the tooth or lug 44 of the latch 42 to ride out of the intermediate notch 35 and snap into one of the outer notches 35, the snap action being accomplished through the medium of the coil springs-51. This movement of the plate 28 brings one of the flanges 31 or 32 to a position adjacent the outer end of the lever 46. Then, when the turn has been completed and the steering wheel 12 is being returned to normal position, one of the lugs 49 will engage the inner end of the lever 46 and actuate said lever in a direction to return the plate 28 to neutral or inoperative position. Of course, the lever 46 engages the flange 31 or 32 which has been moved adjacent thereto in closing the circuit. As will be apparent, the latch 42 constitutes means for releasably securing the plate 28 in each of its three positions. The slidable mounting of the lever 46 permits said lever to yield should one of the lugs 49 for any reason engage the inner end 48 of said lever in a manner to cause binding, thereby preventing damage. The coilsprings 51 return the lever 46 to neutral or inoperative position when said lever is released by the lugs 49.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric switch constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A switch comprising a housing, means for mounting the housing on a vehicle, contacts mounted in the housing, a manually operable, rotatably adjustable member mounted in the housing, a contact finger on the member engageable selectively with the contacts, a latch for releasably securing the member in adjusted position, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and operable by an element of the vehicle, means operatively connecting the member to the lever for actuation to inoperative position thereby, and common resilient means normally maintaining the latch in operative position and the lever in inoperative position.

2. A switch comprising a housing, means for mounting the housing on a vehicle, a manually operable rotatably adjustable member mounted in the housing, stationary contacts in the housing, a contact finger mounted on the member for rotation therewith and engageable selectively with the contacts, a latch for releasably securing the member in adjusted position, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and operable by an element of the vehicle, means operatively connecting the member to the lever for actuation to inoperative position thereby, and coil springs connected to the lever and to the latch for yieldingly urging said latch into engagement with the member and for returning the lever to inoperative position.

3. A switch comprising a supporting bracket, means for mounting the bracket on the steering column of an automobile, a housing mounted on thesupporting bracket, a plate rotatably mounted in the housing, stationary contacts in the housing, a contact finger mounted on the plate for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the contacts, means for manually rotating the plate, spaced flanges on the plate, said plate having a series of notches therein between the fianges, a latch slidably mounted in the housing and engageable in the notches for releasably securing the plate in adjusted position, a lever pivotally and slidably mounted in the housing and engageable with the flanges for returning the plate to inoperative position, said lever engageable for actuation by the steering wheel of the automobile, and springs connected, at one end, to the latch and at their other ends to the lever for returning said lever to inoperative position and for yieldingly engaging the latch with the plate.

CLARENCE E. STOW. 

